I thoroughly enjoyed this book for several reasons. The main being the style of prose! Hanson emulates the epic style found in the Iliad and Beowulf. It's a refreshing way to read of daily life and battles from ancient times, immersing one self into his story (and history). This is not a fast read and some will find the language difficult at first. However, reading this over several days allows one to approach it with a fresh appreciation for the effort and skill used to write in this language. The End of Sparta is for both history lovers and lovers of literature.